Wallingford, Seattle

Wallingford
Neighborhood of Seattle
Country	United States
State	Washington
City	Seattle
City Council	District 4
Neighborhood Council	Lake Union District
Police District	North Precinct, B3
Established	Annexed to Seattle on May 3, 1891
Named for	John Noble Wallingford Jr.
Area
• Total	1.07 sq mi (2.8 km2)
Population
• Total	12,210
• Density	11,000/sq mi (4,400/km2)
ZIP code	98103

Wallingford is a neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington, named after John Noble Wallingford, Jr. (1833–1913). The QFC supermarket at the corner of N 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue N may be regarded as the center of the neighborhood; its large WALLINGFORD neon sign is made in part from letters in the old FOOD GIANT sign that adorned QFC's predecessor for decades, into the late 1990s.

Wallingford Sign

Boundaries

Like all Seattle neighborhoods, there are no official boundaries for Wallingford. Geographically speaking, the neighborhood is primarily defined by the sloping ridge that runs north from the edge of Lake Union to 45th Street, with the ridge line approximately following Wallingford Avenue. Generally the boundaries are considered as Highway 99 to the west, Interstate 5 to the east, Lake Union to the south, and 50th Street to the north; however the western and northern boundaries are often debated. The Seattle City Clerk defines the area south of 45th and west of Stone Way as part of Fremont. A number of businesses in this southwestern section, particularly those south of 40th street, use the Fremont moniker in their names, such as the Fremont Collective at Stone Way and 35th Street and the Fremont Brewing Company at 34th Street and Woodland Park Avenue. The 1998 Neighborhood Plan defined the northern edge of the neighborhood as 60th Street, however the area north of 50th street is often associated with Greenlake and sometimes considered part of the distinct neighborhood of Tangletown.

The cultural center of the neighborhood is frequently considered the intersection of 45th street and Wallingford Avenue. The QFC grocery store on the north side of this intersection has a large, neon “WALLINGFORD” sign made up in part from letters in the old “FOOD GIANT” sign which adorned QFC’s predecessor for decades. On the southeastern corner of this intersection is the Wallingford Center, a 53,000 square foot elementary school built in 1904 that has been renovated and converted into two floors of shopping and dining establishments with 24 studio apartments above.

Good Shepherd Center

Gas Works Park

History

John Wallingford was a major local landowner and real estate speculator; at one time his holdings included most of what is now Wallingford and extended north as far as Green Lake. He travelled considerably up and down the West Coast of the United States and lived for a time in Alaska.

Neighborhood Character

Wallingford's business district extends along N 45th Street from Stone Way N in the west to Sunnyside Avenue N in the east and features many small shops, three banks, a pharmacy, a few taverns and bars, the two Guild 45th movie theaters, the Wallingford Center (the former Interlake Elementary School, now turned into shops and apartments), and numerous restaurants (including the original Dick's Drive-In, founded 1954).

Notable Structures and Places

Public spaces include Gas Works Park, Meridian Playground, and Wallingford playfield. Gas Works Park on Lake Union borders the Burke-Gilman Trail and provides a panoramic extension into Lake Union, with a playground in planning as part of the 2009 parks levy. Meridian playground features a former Roman Catholic home for wayward girls called the Good Shepherd Center, now a shared community space run by Historic Seattle. Major tenants include Seattle Tilth, Meridian School, the Wallingford Senior Center, and the Chapel performance space which features the Wayward Music Series . Wallingford playfield borders recently renovated Hamilton International Middle School and features views and a wading pool open in summer months. To the north lies Lower Woodland Park, which features athletic fields, a skate park, tennis courts, and connections to the Woodland Park Zoo and Green Lake. The University of Wallingford began in 1984, to provide religious training and Social Gospel Care to the neighborhood. It is located in the Seattle First Church of the Nazarene, behind Dick's on 45th.

Wallingford is home to several community organizations. The Wallingford Neighborhood Office, located behind Tully's (now closed -- new occupant TBD on the northeast corner of Meridian Avenue N and N 45th street) helps organize local events. The Wallingford Community Council meets the first Wednesday every month in the Good Shepherd Center and engages the community with government organizations. Sustainable Wallingford is a residents group dedicated to sustainable living. Seattle Tilth runs the public gardens and plant sales at the Good Shepherd Center. Solid Ground (formerly The Fremont Public Association) is colocated with the Wallingford Branch of the Seattle Public Library and runs a food bank and family support services. The Wallingford Boys and Girls club provides a safe, social space for kids and teens along 45th, while the Wallingford Senior Center provides a safe social space for older folks.

Just south of N 45th is the former (Abraham) Lincoln High School (1907–1981), now used primarily to house public schools "in exile" while their own buildings undergo major renovations: Ballard High School was rebuilt in 1997–1999, Roosevelt High School (Seattle) in 2004–2006, Hamilton Middle School in 2008–2010, and McDonald / John Hay Elementary Schools beginning in 2010.

Annual Events

Major annual events in the neighborhood include the Wallingford Kiddie Parade as part of Seafair, the Wallingford Wurst Festival run by St Benedict's Church, and the Family Fourth fireworks show at Gas Works Park. Smaller events include Seattle Tilth's chicken coop tour and the Wallingford Neighborhood office's garden and home tours.

External links

• Seattle City Clerk's Neighborhood Map Atlas — Wallingford
• Wallingford Community Organizations - supporting the Wallingford Community
• Preservation Seattle – Preservation in Wallingford
• Wallingford article on Seattle Wiki
• Paul Dorpat, Seattle Neighborhoods: Wallingford -- Thumbnail History, HistoryLink.org Essay 3461, July 24, 2001
• MyWallingford, a Community Blog for the Wallingford neighborhood
• Wallyhood, the Wallingford neighborhood blog
• Local artists in Wallingford
• Gasworks Gallery is located in Wallingford and considered one of Seattle's largest artist enclaves with over 60 working artists and photographers